Podcast appearances and mentions of bart watson

These are confusing times, and hard times to work in a small business. As Bart Watson of the Brewers Association recently said, beer makers really dislike uncertainty. So, how can anyone plan when the global supply chain is changing minute by minute? On this epidode we talk about how to budget for the unknown. The last few months have seen a fire hose of news coming out of Washington D.C., a lot centered around tariffs and global trade. Admittedly, it's difficult to do a show on the topic because of the chaotic nature of the rollout from the White House and how seemingly concrete plans crumble minutes after they are announced. This obviously creates uncertainty in the markets and on main street. This episode features two conversations that center around what might be coming and how to best prepare. Bart Watson the president and CEO of the Brewers Association talks about the bigger picture and then Audra Gaiziunas of Brewed for Her Ledger tells us how you can best budget for uncertainty. The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 64  is sponsored by:RahrBSG / Gambrinus IPA MaltGambrinus IPA Malt possesses an elusive color falling between very pale pilsner and golden pale ale malt. Tailor-made to complement contemporary West Coast IPAs, it provides balancing sweetness and body in the presence of piney, juicy, and tropical hop profiles. Delivering a delicate profile of bread, toast, grain, and slight nuttiness, Gambrinus IPA Malt is a workhorse base malt. Available now as the latest addition to the premier range of brewing malts offered by RahrBSG. More info at: rahrbsg.com/gambrinus-ipa-malt/ Five Star ChemicalsBig news, brewers—Five Star Chemicals Saniclean PAA Pro is officially launching at CBC. This powerful new acid-based sanitizer combines the best of Saniclean with the strength of per-acetic acid for fast, effective cleaning that keeps your equipment in top shape. Trusted quality, pro performance—now in a PAA formula. Learn more at fivestarchemicals.com. Brew better. Brew with Five Star.BYO Nano+ MembershipGet access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO's Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You'll also have full online access to all of BYO's digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 64Host: John HollGuests: Bart Watson, Audra GaiziunasContact: nano@byo.comMusic: Scott McCampbell

Happy New Year and Happy 9th Anniversary to us!We made it to 9 years. Wild. I know everyone looking back on things says how much they've seen change, but wow, we sure have seen a lot change since we started this thing. What a ride. Thanks for joining us for the trip. Maybe we'll throw a big party for the 10 year celebration.This week we talk about Dry January. Nate's going dry, I'm dry for now due to #DoctorsOrders, and Brian is still very wet. If you do go dry, don't forget your local breweries. Go grab a bite, see if they have any NA offerings, maybe try a mocktail. They need you now more than ever.Big news from the Brewers Association as Bart Watson is appointed President and CEO. Bart was formerly the Chief Economist at the BA and shared all the facts and figures on what was happening in the craft beer world. He joined us on the show back in 2018, you can check that out here. (I have no idea where the Duke's Mayo ad on that show came from.)For the crappy news that seems so common these days we report that RateBeer is shutting down and that beer drinking in 2024 was the lowest it's been in a generation, and the report that it's possible the popularity of Ozempic is impacting beer sales. Pfft.Cheers to 2025, Y'all! Hope it's a great one!TimThanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSSFollow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Incoming Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bart Watson joined the Brewbound Podcast this week to share how he's approaching the new role with the trade group.    Watson, the BA's VP of strategy and membership, was named as the successor to long-time leader Bob Pease, who will retire on January 3. Watson will take the post on January 6.    On the podcast, Watson explains how the trade group representing small and independent craft brewers will be “ruthlessly member centric” moving forward and serve as a problem-solving organization.   He also discusses how his leadership style may differ from Pease, the benefits of having a front-row-seat over the last 12 years, his approach to the BA's “big tent” membership and who gets in that tent, and the biggest opportunity ahead for the trade group.

The Brewers Association has tapped Bart Watson to lead the trade group for small and independent brewers, following the planned retirement of Bob Pease. The Brewbound team breaks down the choice and the challenges ahead for Watson in his new role, as well as the larger industry after last week's release of the “Year in Beer” report.    Plus, Jess, Zoe and Justin share highlights of the Brewbound LIve business conference and the underlying theme of “focus,” the primer on intoxicating hemp and a new long-time partnership between Dogfish Head and the Grateful Dead. They also discuss the winner of the 2024 Brewbound Pitch Slam competition, Hurray's Girl Beer.    The show wraps up with an interview with Brewbound's 2024 Person of the Year, Highland Brewing president Leah Wong Ashburn, who shares details of a new beer release that will help North Carolina hospitality workers in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

In the lead up to Melbourne Cup 2024, NITV Radio caught up with Bart Watson, Indigenous Program Lead at Racing Queensland to explore efforts made by his organisation to improve First Nations Participation in racing in QLD.

Bart Watson, Chief Economist for the Brewers Association joins The Session to discuss the 2024 mid-year craft beer survey results. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Brewers Association recently hosted its Midyear State Of The Industry. This episode, I'll talk to Bart Watson, the Chief Economist and VP of strategy for the Brewers Association about the business of beer. Beers from Sierra Nevada and Twisted HippoOddPods MediaPromo: BFYTW

Brewers Association (BA) chief economist and VP of strategy Bart Watson provides insights into the state of the craft brewing industry, while senior director of federal affairs Katie Marisic gives an overview of the trade group's government affairs work on the latest edition of the Brewbound Podcast.   The conversations were recorded on the BrewExpo floor of the Craft Brewers Conference in Las Vegas.    But first, Justin and Zoe discuss craft's bumpy April and rough overall shipment numbers in March.    And Justin plays Another Round or Tabbing Out with the Voodoo Ranger and Tombstone collaboration IPizzaA IPA.    Listen here or on your podcast platform of choice.

The first round of interviews from the Brewbound Podcast On Location at the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) in Las Vegas are here.    Breeze Galindo, the director of operations on the Michael J Jackson Foundation for Brewing and Distilling, discusses the foundation's work, evolution and scholarship awards for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color professionals in the bev-alc industry. Galindo also dishes on her brewery in-planning, MiLuna Brewing Company, which she will open in New York.   Then, Icicle Brewing owner Pam Brulotte chats about her journey into the brewing industry, being married to a hop farmer and starting a brewery in Leavenworth, Washington. She also discusses her work with the Brewers Association (BA), including co-chairing the trade group's diversity, equity and inclusion committee.    Plus, Jess, Justin and Zoe recap Day 2 of CBC, including BA chief economist and VP of strategy Bart Watson's state of the industry speech.

Welcome to This Week in Rauchbier for April 1, 2024. Our Rauchbier spotlight is trained on Caleb Michalke of Sugar Creek Malt in Indiana. He's working to bring rauchmalt of distinction of discerning brewers and distillers. Then Rick Lyke, our rauchbier sherpa and the founder of the Pints for Prostates Campaign, shares his inspirational journey into smoked beer and offers his unparalleled insight and advice to breweries regarding smoked beer. Then Bart Watson of the Brewers Association joins us to share the latest growth and success of Rauchbier in the marketplace. Enjoy these audio smoky delights. Thanks to Hagen and Bill for the inspiration to do this show. Hear the genesis of This Week in Rauchbier on episode 5 of Drink Beer, Think Beer.For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.Host: John HollGuests: Caleb Michalke, Rick Lyke, and Bart Watson.Tags: beer, craft beer, rauchbier, smoke, April Fool's DayMusic for this episode:NewsSting by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4124-newsstingLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Looking back on the big styles and big stories of 2023.We've almost made it through another year.  Whew.  Seems like they hasn't been a ton of sunshine and puppies for craft beer since before the plague and 2023 definitely brought its share of challenges.The Most Loved StylesWe'll start off with some non-negative news and recap the top rated beer styles per Untappd.  I'm a bit surprised here, but I talk it through and see why these styles landed where they did.Is the Bubble Bursting?The big Bubble Burst has been predicted for several years now for craft breweries.  We're not really seeing a bubble burst, but we are seeing, as Bart Watson of the Brewers Association put it, market correction.  Brewery closures, sell offs, bankruptcies, and mergers were the norm this year with a few lawsuits thrown in for good measure.Bud Light BlunderAnother story that stayed in the news for most of the year.  This one made everyone mad, and AB chose not to take sides on either front and just move on.  Their moves cost them dearly, with lasting effects.A Look AheadWho the heck knows what 2024 holds.  We make some predictions and wishes.  Unfortunately, signs point to more challenges for the industry.  But, we're still going to get great beer from great brewers, so I guess it will be alright.Thanks for spending 2023 with us.  We appreciate you and hope 2024 is a banger of a year for you!Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSSFollow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

The end of a year is a good time to look back, take stock, and to plan for what is to come.For professional brewers and drinkers 2023 is going to be remembered for a number of reasons. There's a lot of strong feelings and a lot of realities coming to roost, but so much of that rests on the numbers. Bart Watson, the chief economist for the Brewers Association is here for a conversation about the year that was and what the new year might look like. He is the Chief Economist for the Brewers Association, is a stats geek, beer lover, and Certified Cicerone®. He holds a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, where in addition to his dissertation, he completed a comprehensive survey of Bay Area brewpubs one pint at a time. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @BrewersStats.The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 48  is sponsored by:Fermentis  There are occasions when a single micro-organism is not enough.That's why Fermentis gives you All-In-1™, a brand of specifically blended products, which can be made from a mix of micro-organisms, catalysts, nutrients and more. Discover blends for all your needs: Lower-carb dry lagers, dry flavorful beers, very high gravity beers and a new all-in-one yeast and enzyme blend for Dry, complex and Woody beers! To learn more about how Fermentis can improve the quality of your fermentation visit www.fermentis.com.GrainfatherWhether you're looking for a brewing system to create trial recipes, or you want to easily add production capacity to your nanobrewery – the Grainfather G70 electric brewing system is your solution. The G70 has a 70 liter capacity, allowing you to easily make ½ BBL batches of beer in a compact system that won't take up valuable floor space. Ask your BSG sales manager for more information about the G70 today, or go to Grainfather.com to learn more.BYO Nano+ MembershipGet access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO's new Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You'll also have full online access to all of BYO's digital content and an annual print magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 48Host: John HollGuest: Bart WatsonContact: nano@byo.comMusic: Scott McCampbell

Margie Lehrman, CEO of the American Craft Spirits Association, and Bart Watson, Chief Economist for the Brewers Association, team up to discuss the winds of change blowing through the craft industry. Not long ago, the seas of craft beer and spirits were all smooth sailing as operators expanded into new, undiscovered territory. As costs rise, consumers shrug, and investors start to feel uneasy, many craft operators have been forced to batten down the hatches and rethink their long-term strategy, lest they should be blown off course. 

At CBC in Nashville this past May, BA Chief Economist, Bart Watson, encouraged brewery owners / operators to be more creative in finding ways to reach new audiences. An historically underserved community breweries can do a better job of reaching is the disability community. There are three levels of accommodations: ADA compliance, Accessibility & Inclusivity. This session will focus on the difference between the three levels and focus on how breweries can be more accessible to people with disabilities. Creating a great customer experience that accommodates more people is good for the community and the bottom line. ADA compliance is important but is the minimum requirement. Easy to implement, actionable information will be shared by a panel composed of a disability rights advocate, brewery architect, and brewery owner. Attendees of this session will discover how they can appeal to and support customers with disabilities while maintaining the integrity of their existing brewery brand. Panelists: Dustin Hauck (Hauck Architecture), Kelly Ferketich Weiss (Perkiomen Valley Brewery), Tim McLaughlin (GoTab) Moderator: Meghan Connolly Haupt (New York State Brewers Association)

Welcome to This Week in Rauchbier for April 1, 2023. Our Brewers Roundtable goes deep into the smoke with Spencer Longhurst of Barrique Brewing & Blending, Logan Ackerley of Wallenpaupack Brewing, and Will Gomez of The Brew Bridge. Then Bart Watson of the Brewers Association joins us to share the latest growth and success of Rauchbier in the marketplace. Enjoy these audio smoky delights. Thanks to Hagen and Bill for the inspiration to do this show. Hear the genesis of This Week in Rauchbier on episode 5 of Drink Beer, Think Beer.For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer. Host: John Holl Guests: Spencer Longhurst, Will Gomez, Logan Ackerley, and Bart Watson. Tags: beer, craft beer, rauchbier, smoke, April Fool's Day Music for this episode:NewsSting by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4124-newsstingLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

No Beer in Boise on St Paddys?! In the closest thing they have done to actual reporting, Jeremy and Tyler discuss the rumblings from within the industry behind the strangest protest in recent memory. PLUS Do you want Montucky fans the world over to see your face on their can? We have the details to make that happen. A plea from Bart Watson to stop being such freaking beer snobs. And more!

The Brewbound team reports live from the California Craft Beer Summit in Sacramento. The team discusses early takeaways from the first major meeting of California's craft brewers since 2019, including thoughts on David Walker of Firestone Walker's enthusiasm for craft beer, Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson's early production data and much more.

Today we hear from Bart Watson, Chief Economist for the Brewer's Association. Bart breaks down 2022 beer data, shares trends, volume and market share on the beer industry.Key TopicsBeer data and trends to watchOn premise vs. off premise volume and growthTrends in pack counts, sizes, formatsBrewery openings and closingsBart's forecast for 2023ResourcesLearn more about Bart's work with the Brewer's AssociationGet the free wholesaler financial training newsletter

Today we hear from Bart Watson, Chief Economist for the Brewer's Association. Bart breaks down 2022 beer data, shares trends, volume and market share on the beer industry. Key TopicsBeer data and trends to watchOn premise vs. off premise volume and growth Trends in pack counts, sizes, formatsBrewery openings and closingsBart's forecast for 2023ResourcesLearn more about Bart's work with the Brewer's AssociationGet the free brewery financial training newsletter

Guest host Mark Kondrat (Let's Meet For a Beer Podcast) chats with Brewers Association Chief Economist Bart Watson.  Following up on Barts presentation at the Alberta Craft Brewing Convention, Mark and Bart get into the statistics of beer. How are the markets affecting beer? What impact does inflation have? How do we address the declining beer market?  Listen to learn more.    For the entire, unedited interview, head to the Let's Meet For a Beer Podcast website.

Meet Bart Watson, the Chief Economist of the Brewers Association. Bart discusses the craft beer market and industry trends, predictions, analysis, and more! Tune in to learn about how the craft beer community in Canada has evolved and how it will continue to develop and expand

Bart Watson, Chief Economist - Brewers Association talks with Megan and Carol about where Missouri ranks as a beer city and more about drinking.

Bart Watson, Chief Economist - Brewers Association talks with Megan and Carol about where Missouri ranks as a beer city and more about drinking.

On this episode of the Brew Ha Ha podcast, Tara Nurin calls in from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to report on the Craft Brewers Conference and Brew Expo America. She writes about the business of beverage and spirits for Forbes magazine. She has recently published a book, A Woman's Place Is In The Brewhouse, which Herlinda reports has surpassed 10,000 sales on that big website that people buy stuff from, and she is also thee most frequent guest ever to appear on Brew Ha Ha. Tara Nurin tells the story starting with the great relief everyone felt, to be around friends and colleagues again. Natalie Cilurzo was the keynote speaker and people are coming away with a good feeling about it all. Herlinda mentions that Bart Watson, economist for the Brewer's Association, has published some data that looks good even after the pandemic. Tara tells of people who opened breweries in 2019 and 2020 who tell about surviving and growing their businesses. There were a lot of pessimistic predictions but in the end more breweries made it than they thought would, at first. Tara is also working with NZ Hops, which means New Zealand-grown hops. Meagan Andersen was on last year on this episode, to talk about NZ Hops. Among the many types of hops they sell, they have one called Nectaron® that was developed after a 17-year R&D process. There was a poll of brewers who voted this the most popular hops that they would like to get. There are some proud and happy 5th generation farmers in New Zealand now. NZ Hops is also selling a new hop oil product that is very easy to ship and is also "super-sustainable." Instead of shipping a box of pellets, they ship a box of vials, which is much easier.

Join us as we learn about the current status of the brewing industry from Bart Watson, Chief Economist at the Brewers Association. Recorded February 2022.

On this episode of This Week in Rauchbier special co-host Erik Lehto talks about home brewing rauchbier and the smoke beer scene in Sweden. Then we're joined by Bill Cherry, the founder and brewmaster of Switchback Brewing in Vermont who shares stories and the inspiration behind the brewery's Flynn on Fire Series. As always, Bart Watson of the Brewers Association joins the show to talk about the smoked beer stats we all look forward to each week. Finally, we have a brewers roundtable to talk about alternative smoked beverages including NA beer and seltzer. Adrian Beck-Oliver and Simon Burhoe of Kit NA Brewing in Portland, Maine are joined by brewery consultant Ethan Cox. Enjoy these audio smoky delights. Thanks to Hagen and Bill for the inspiration to do this show. Hear the genesis of This Week in Rauchbier on episode 5 of Drink Beer, Think Beer.Music for this episode:NewsSting by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4124-newsstingLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/For more Drink Beer, Think Beer or to check out Beer Edge: The Newsletter for Beer Professionals, follow us on Twitter @thebeeredge and subscribe to our beer industry focused newsletter. There is more information, articles, and engaging content at Beer Edge. Hosts: John Holl and Erik Lehto Guests: Bill Cherry, Adrian Beck-Oliver, Simon Burhoe, Ethan Cox, and Bart Watson. Tags: beer, craft beer, rauchbier, smoke, April Fool's Day

Inflation, war, and general chaos are disrupting every aspect of the beer value chain. To help brewers plan through this conflagration of unfortunate events, we invited Bart Watson, Chief Economist for the Brewers Association, and Michael Uhrich, former Chief Economist for the Beer Institute and now principal at Seventh Point Analytic Consulting, on to the show. With their help, we use a draft to identify the most important themes from the current inflation and supply chain crisis and how brewers might manage them. Rabobank clients can sign up for our research via this link: Research.Rabobank.com  

In today's podcast we hear from Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers' Association. Bart is a self-described "stats geek, beer lover, and Certified Cicerone®." And he holds a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley.  So, the Beer Data Doctor is in the house. In our conversation we dig into the 2021 beer data and get Bart's key takeaways, trends, and outlook for the coming year. We also talk about "craft's leaky bucket" and how brewers can use this concept to maintain or grow market share. Key Topics 2021 beer trends and outlook for 2022Bart's key takeaways from the 2021 dataThe state of big seltzer (and craft seltzer)On-premise outlook ResourcesBart's articles on benchmarking data, survey results, and packaging trendsThe Finance Newsletter for Craft Breweries

The cost of making beer is rising faster than the cost to buy beer, so what does that mean for craft brewers? Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson discusses the options, plus the state of the supply chain, and the need for a replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Bart Watson, Chief Economist from the Brewers Association, simplifies and explains the U.S. craft beer market. Bart covers the size of the craft beer market, the impact of COVID, geo-hot spots, popular consumer trends and global shifts influencing the U.S. beer market. #beereconomics #craftbeertrends #bartwatson #brewersassociation #beerCOVID #craftbeersales

The world's largest can manufacturer, Ball Corp., alerted clients that it will increase the minimum order for printed cans to five truckloads per SKU starting January 1, and the company will no longer offer warehousing for orders. Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson joins the Brewbound Podcast to provide context on the fallout for craft brewers.

On this episode we chat with Brewers Association, Chief Economist Bart Watson and ATB, Vice President and Chief Economist Todd Hirsch.  https://www.brewersassociation.org/author/bart-watson/ https://toddhirsch.com/ We also talk Freshtival with Alberta Hops Producers Association Chair Denise Warner, also with Underground Hops. https://albertahopproducers.com/Events https://craftbeercommonwealth.com/  

This past May, Brienne Allan kicked off a reckoning within the craft beer community in regards to sexual harassment and discrimination. Brienne joins the show along with LeBaron Meyers, President of NotMe Solutions. #Notme is a reporting platform for those who have experienced or witnessed racism, harassment, discrimination and misconduct. “Craft beer is in a liminal phase…an in-between” said Bart Watson of the BA during last week's Craft Brewers Conference. There has been a call to action, and the industry is certainly responding. 

We're back with one final Friends of SBS episode before Season 3 releases next week.In this episode, we're joined by the Chief Economist of the Brewers Association, Bart Watson.We talk about breweries charging their worth, how direct-to-consumer is coming into play, and Bart gives us his thoughts on the current state of the industry along with some future trends to keep your eye on.Enjoy!

With the release of the Brewers Association's latest consumer survey, the Brewbound team discusses what it means to be an “omni-biborous” consumer, a term coined by chief economist Bart Watson. The team dives into the survey, as well as Fourth of July data from Drizly, the latest shipment and import numbers, and the latest acquisition by mega beer wholesaler Reyes.

CRAFT BEER PODCAST INFO: Bart Watson, Chief Economist of the Brewers Association sits down with us to discuss the current setting of the craft beer world, the future that is taprooms, and how we went from Doom and Gloom to some positivity past C*VID. Check out the episode here! 0:00- Introductions 5:40- Craft vs. Macro 9:05- Saturation and Craft Beer Demographics 21:25- Big Box Chains & Beer Clubs 25:15- Changing Beer Laws 27:38- Hard Seltzer 30:14- Public Response To Brewery Purchases 39:18- C*VID Predictions from 2020 47:08- Final Questions https://www.betterondraft.com/blogs/michigan-production-numbers-2020 Sponsors: North Center Brewing - https://northcenterbrewing.com/ Zetouna Liquor - https://www.facebook.com/Zetouna-Liquor-Fine-Wine-Cigars-146021445420374/ PCI BrandCraft - https://www.facebook.com/PCIBrandCraft Join The Michigan Beer Discord - https://discord.gg/vEEDyzwdjT Download the MI Beer Map - http://www.mibeermap.com Subscribe to Better on Draft - https://plnk.to/BOD Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6AlzP1BH0iykayF856bGRc?si=xXZzdd3CTPqgUq_KYTnBKg iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-on-draft-a-craft-beer-podcast/id1091124740 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterondraft Untappd - https://www.untappd.com/bodpodcast YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/betterondraft Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterondraft Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/betterondraft

A weekly conversation about all things rauchbier. This week we welcome Lisa Allen, Franziska Weyermann, Jack Hendler, and Bart Watson.

Welcome to Season 3 of Reuben's Sightglass! This season begins with a scene-setting interview with the one-and-only Bart Watson, Chief Economist for the Brewers Association. We explore the lay of the land at this point of Covid recovery and explore what you, the consumer, are telling us as breweries. What does a return to normal look like, how have breweries pivoted and been impacted, and what forward looking advice does the data give us as brewers. Stay tuned for the rest of Season 3 in the coming weeks over four more weekly episodes.

Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson and National Beer Wholesalers Association chief economist Lester Jones discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected consumers’ beer-buying patterns, what the road back might look like for the beer industry and what’s needed in the interim as breweries attempt to recoup losses from a shuttered on-premise channel.

Every April, people from across North America and around the world flock to America’s largest craft brewing industry gathering: the Craft Brewers Conference. Sharing education, knowledge and ideas, the trade show is led by the top minds in the world of beer and business. For many brewers and beer professionals, this is an annual pilgrimage to not only consume information but to sample great beers. It’s evident when you look at the wealth of resources for brewers to come out of the States how passionate Americans are over craft beer. The CBC is just one example, but you don't have to look far to see evidence elsewhere. One such forum aimed at promoting and protecting American craft brewers is none other than the CBC's hosts, the Brewers Association. The Brewers Association is a not-for-profit trade association comprised of over 5,400 brewers members, 46,000 American Homebrewers Association members, and allied trade, beer wholesalers, retailers and other associate members. However, the Brewers Association isn’t just a resource for America alone. Brewers and beer professionals from other countries and continents, including the UK & Europe, are able to join and enjoy member benefits. These include articles, access to seminars online, education publications, and their magazine, The New Brewer. How America will fare during the current climate is anyone’s guess, especially without getting too political. However, the land of the home and brave and its beer professionals will have to band together more than ever to see its 8000+ breweries come through the other side. The landscape of US craft beer has been changing of late anyway. The keynote talk at the CBC Online from Bart Watson entitled The State of the Craft Brewing Industry, highlights many of the changes. However, it will no doubt will look very different in the months and years that lay ahead as it picks up the pieces of their broken economy. So, in some ways, it’s hard to publish today’s episode - recorded at BrewLDN in February this year - and discuss with Lotte Peplow what makes American craft beer and their brewers great and the reverence for many beer drinkers across the world. Lotte Peplow, is the Brewers Association American Craft Beer Ambassador for Europe. She’s a certified Cicerone®, Beer Sommelier, beer judge, beer writer, homebrewer, beer & food pairer! As you can tell, she’s really into beer…! It was a privilege to sit across a table with her backstage at BrewLDN and share some fresh beers to come from the States, to talk about American craft beer, why independence is so important, equality in the industry, and a wide range of other topics that - at the time of recording - seemed like the most important thing. Hard to believe now as our focus is redefined on merely surviving with our health, our business, and our industry intact. Any events that Lotte and I discuss on the show have been cancelled up until September. After that, who knows what might happen… both with the immediate events as hosted by the Brewers Association and the future of American craft beer.

Craft Brew News04/10/20(Courtesy of www.Brewbound.com)Breweries, Distilleries Partner to Create Hand Sanitizer During COVID-19 OutbreakCody Morris is reincarnating out of code draft beer as hand sanitizer.A professional brewer and the son of distillery owners, he knew that all the beer sitting idle in kegs could be distilled into hand sanitizer, which is needed for essential workers nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.His parents own Hardware Distilling in Hoodsport, Washington, and they wanted to make sanitizer, which needs to be at least 60% ethanol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.To start the process, Morris runs beer he’s collected through Hardware Distilling’s column still twice.Morris is donating sanitizer to first responders, filling up consumers’ own containers at the distillery and selling small bottles to the local grocery store at a low cost.Without using beer as a base, it would take two weeks longer to start making sanitizer from scratch. Last month, the Brewers Association (BA) canceled the in-person version of its Craft Brewers Conference, which led to the stranding of entries to its biennial World Beer Cup at its warehouse in Colorado.With the help of Denver-area distilleries Denver Distillery and Ballmer Peak Distillery, the BA converted the beer, which poured into Colorado from 2,700 craft breweries nationwide, into hand sanitizer.In Milton, Delaware, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, which also distills spirits, used its gin as a base for sanitizer, co-founder Sam Calagione said in a video op-ed today for the New York Times. The sanitizer created will be donated to hospitals, first responders and police departments.Brewers Association Announces Virtual Craft Brewers Conference, Releases ScheduleThe Brewers Association’s Craft Brewers Conference will go on in 2020 — at a social distance.The trade group that represents small and independent craft brewers today announced plans to hold the event virtually over the next five weeks, from April 13 through May 15, with many days featuring two live streamed seminars.The BA said more than 70 industry experts will give 40 free presentations over the next five weeks.The BA canceled CBC, which was supposed to take place from April 19-22 in San Antonio, Texas, on March 12, citing concerns over the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19. CBC, as well as Brew Expo and the World Beer Cup competition were expected to draw more than 13,000 attendees to San Antonio.One of the most anticipated presentations of the year, the annual “State of the Craft Brewing Industry” address from BA chief economist Bart Watson will take place at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 15.Nevada Declares Breweries Non-Essential, Despite Trade Associations Securing National Essential Business DesignationIn many states, bars and restaurants were among the first businesses forced to alter their operations to keep people from gathering in large groups. Since then, shutdowns have expanded to other non-essential businesses, such as hair and nail salons, clothing stores and gyms.The beer industry has been deemed essential under guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), something the heads of beer trade associations worked to secure.Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak set guidelines on March 12 outlining which businesses were essential and which were not, but breweries, wineries, pubs and bars fell on the non-essential side of the line.Nevada breweries, however, are permitted to keep brewing and selling beer for distribution. The state’s liquor stores are non-essential and closed, but grocery stores sell beer. Craft breweries can offer safe locations for beer purchasing to cull crowds at grocery stores.The essential business designation has enabled breweries nationwide to remain open and sell beer to-go from taprooms and into the three-tier system. However, the loss of on-premise service, at least for the country’s nearly 6,000 brewpub and taproom brewers, has been “in a word, devastating,” Brewers Association (BA) president and CEO Bob Pease added.“If this goes two months, four months, six months, then there’s going to be a significant toll,” he said.Constellation Brands Does Not Expect Disruption of Corona and Modelo Brands; Posts $8.34 Billion in Sales for FY 2020Constellation Brands will continue production of import brands Corona, Modelo and Pacifico at its facilities in Mexico, despite the suspension of nonessential businesses in that country.The Mexican government issued a decree Tuesday suspending all nonessential operations, including beer manufacturing, through the end of April. During the company’s fourth quarter and full-year 2020 earnings call, Constellation Brands CEO Bill Newlands told investors and analysts that the company’s production facilities are open and operating in Mexico, the U.S., Italy and New Zealand.Constellation is taking employees’ temperature as they arrive at its facilities and has staggered shifts to encourage social distancing.Meanwhile, Anheuser-Busch InBev-owned Grupo Modelo, which produces and sells Corona, Modelo and Pacifico outside the U.S., announced Friday it will halt production, according to CNN. Heineken N.V. also announced that it will suspend production and distribution of its products from its seven manufacturing facilities in Mexico, effective Sunday, according to Reuters.Constellation Brands’ net sales, encompassing its beer, spirits and wine business, increased 3%, to $8.344 billion for the full 2020 fiscal year.As of press time, Constellation Brands (STZ) stock was up around 1%, to around $132, which is down considerably from its 52-week high of $214.48.Craft Beer Storm Website: www.craftbeerstorm.com If your Company, Hotel or Restaurant wants to book a CraftBeer Weekend or Craft Beer Evening for your guests or employees send an email to Michael@craftbeerstorm.com Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craft-beer-storm-podcast-30776075/Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2*** A Top 20 Podcast in Food on iTunes ***Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NH*** Interested in starting your own brewery? Our Portsmouth, NH TURNKEY facility is for sale! Follow link for more info:https://www.neren.com/Listing/2800-Lafayette-Rd-12A/5cdda2dabf34cb9150a7faebMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.com**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/podcast-center-la-2/craft-beer-stormCraft Beer Storm Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craft-beer-storm-podcast-30776075/Craft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerstorm/

I connected with the Brewers Association's Chief Economist Bart Watson on how the beer industry is doing in 2019. This has become a bit of an annual chat so I was excited to talk numbers and see how the industry has changed from last year. Brewers Association https://www.brewersassociation.org/ Cascadian Beer Podcast Website: http://cascadian.beer Facebook: http://facebook.com/cascadianbeer Twitter: http://twitter.com/cascadianbeer Podcast created and hosted by: Aaron Johnson Editing & mixing by: Aaron Johnson Theme music by: A:M (Aaron Johnson & Danny Moffat) Support the show.

Craft Brew News 09/12/19Judge Denies A-B’s Motion to Dismiss Patagonia Trademark LawsuitA federal judge on Tuesday denied Anheuser-Busch’s motion to dismiss a trademark case filed by outdoor clothing maker Patagonia after the world’s largest beer manufacturer launched a beer called Cerveza Patagonia.According to Law 360, Patagonia sued for trademark dilution, rather than trademark infringement, due to the two company’s products being unrelated. A company can only file for trademark dilution when the mark has become “famous.”U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips ruled that Patagonia, who cited more than $10 billion in sales, did indeed fit this description.Phillips wrote “To meet the ‘famousness’ element of protection under the dilution statutes, a mark must be truly prominent and renowned. “Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged that its ‘Patagonia’ mark is famous and distinctive.”Along with trademark dilution, the lawsuit also sought to cancel A-B’s 2012 registration of the name “Patagonia,” as it could be associated with the apparel company. Phillips refused A-B’s request to dismiss those claims.Patagonia general counsel Rob Tadlock told Law 360 that A-B has “deliberately tried to confuse customers into thinking that Patagonia Cerveza is produced by Patagonia, rather than Anheuser-Busch.”Last month, A-B launched Cerveza Patagonia in 13 states.Brewers Association Estimates Number of Breweries in PlanningBrewers Association (BA) chief economist Bart Watson, referencing state license lists and brewery-in-planning memberships in its database, along with Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) permits, estimated that 1,940 breweries will open in the U.S. over the next two years. According to Watson, when factoring in brewery closures, the number of total breweries in the U.S. over the next two years could reach around 9,200.Check out our Podcast with Bart Watson on Episode # 41 - Here is link:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/966-craft-beer-storm-29999356/episode/episode-41-what-kind-30904715/Narragansett Acquires 18,000 Sq. Ft. Brewery in Rhode IslandNarragansett Beer officially acquired an 18,000 sq. ft. building in Providence, Rhode Island, which will serve as the company’s new headquarters. Narragansett plans to add an indoor taproom, outdoor beer garden and special event space to the facility, which is slated to open in spring 2020.Narragansett president Mark Hellendrung told Brewbound that he expects the first phase of the project to cost $6 million. The company will also own the building.In a press release, Hellendrung called the brewery acquisition a “homecoming” for him and “a new chapter” for the brand.“To have a brewery right at the top of Narragansett Bay, that’s easy to get to in Providence, and is connected to the picturesque India Point Park and the East Bay bike path is really a dream come true,” he said.Narragansett will continue to produce its higher volume offerings at FIFCO USA and Isle Brewers Guild in Pawtucket, while producing small-batch and innovation beers on a 15- or 20- barrel brewhouse in Providence, where the company also plans to install a canning line.Anheuser-Busch Donates Canned Water to Hurricane Dorian Relief EffortAnheuser-Busch, answering the American Red Cross’ request for aide, donated more than 100,000 cans of water to Florida residents in advance of Hurricane Dorian, according to Florida Politics. The water was delivered to A-B’s Jacksonville brewery from its production facility in Carterville, Georgia. Southern Eagle Distributing, Gold Coast Eagle Distributing and Bernie Little Distributors distributed the water.Craft Beer Storm Website: www.craftbeerstorm.com** Check out Upcoming Craft Beer Weekends ** Hampton, NHThe Victoria Inn Bed & Breakfast and PavilionCraft Beer Weekend - Dates: October 25-27, 2019Friday - Food / Beer Pairing at Inn / Q&A Brewer's PanelSaturday - Beer Bus takes you to local Breweries/DinnerSunday - Kegs N Eggs and BeerMosasAvailability: Limited - Book NOW!http://www.thevictoriainn.com/6th-annual-craft-beer-storm-weekend-2019/If your Company, Hotel or Restaurant wants to book a CraftBeer Weekend or Craft Beer Evening for your guests or employees send an email to Michael@craftbeerstorm.com Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Support ACS In NYC Marathon“32K In 64 days” - I signed up for the NYC Marathon through the American Cancer Society and I am aiming to raise $32,000 ($3,200 Minimum X 10X) - please follow link below to donate what you can - $25, $50, $30K! - Onward... - Here is link –http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=94035&pg=personal&px=49477898&fbclid=IwAR2mBEvhF1wMA_BbHPhkavichNSFrE9Y9gi2RVZzfQ_4Da5Sht7gvH9rY_k*** A Top 20 Podcast in Food on iTunes ***Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NH*** Interested in starting your own brewery? Our Portsmouth, NH TURNKEY facility is for sale! Follow link for more info:https://www.neren.com/Listing/2800-Lafayette-Rd-12A/5cdda2dabf34cb9150a7faebMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/podcast-center-la-2/craft-beer-stormCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelpotorti/

The Brewer’s Association crunches numbers and stats for the benefit of independent breweries in the US. Today’s guest helps us understand these stats and gives a little insight as to how these breweries can differentiate themselves despite the crowd. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jeremy-storton/message

Bart Watson, Chief Economist of the Brewers Association comes by to chat about what exactly an economist does for the brewing industry, how he gets his data and some new stats. We dive into Boston Beer Co. and Dogfish Head joining forces, as well as the Brewers Association Annual Hill Climb.

As of right now—May 2019—there are about 7,500 breweries in the United States. From 2016-2018, the Brewers Association counted about two new breweries opening every day, and in that time, the size, scope, and potential of what those businesses could become has quickly changed. Year-to-year volume growth for Brewers Association-defined craft beer dropped to 4% last year, a decline of 1% from 2017 and the lowest growth rate in a decade. Industry conversations now focus on going a “mile deep,” not a “mile wide.” In other words, staying small and local—while embracing close-to-home and taproom sales—is becoming a safer and more secure way to grow, albeit slower and with greater intent. As the beer category slows and more companies focus on staying small and local, the idea of “growth” as a business concept is changing. To better get a sense of what this change means, GBH connected with Bart Watson, the economist from the Brewers Association, and Tom Madden, co-founder of Lone Pine Brewing Company in Portland, Maine. With a mix of industry stats and real-life case study, we hope to get to the bottom of what growth looks like in a slowing beer industry. Listen in.

Craft Brew News - 5/3/2019Craft Brew Alliance Agrees to Settle Kona Labeling DisputeCraft Brew Alliance (CBA) has agreed to settle a years-long class action lawsuit over alleged “false and deceptive advertising” of its Kona Brewing beer brand.In an SEC filing, the publicly traded Portland, Oregon-based craft beer company – today said it expects to incur costs of about $4.7 million to settle the dispute, which surfaced in early 2017.That amount is inclusive of all legal and administrative fees but does not represent the total amount CBA will pay to the class, according to Marcus Reed, the company’s general counsel.According to Reed, the nationwide settlement will be open to consumers who purchased Kona-branded beer products dating as far back as 2013.The original complaint alleged that CBA, “intentionally misleads consumers into believing that Kona Brewing Company beer is a local beer made in Hawaii.”Although CBA maintains a production facility in Hawaii and produces thousands of barrels on the island, it produces a majority of the Kona beer sold in the continental U.S. at facilities in Portland, Oregon, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and at an Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado.Speaking to Brewbound, Reed said the company agreed to a settlement after two years of litigation because it was becoming a “distraction” to the company’s day-to-day business.“It got to the point where it was time to reach a settlement,” he said.Canada’s Moosehead Breweries Enters Cannabis Sector in JV with SproutlyCanada’s oldest and largest independent brewery is getting into the cannabis business.Moosehead Breweries Limited and Sproutly Canada, which aims to become the leading supplier of water-soluble cannabis solutions, yesterday announced their intent to form an exclusive joint venture that will develop, produce and market cannabis-infused beverages.In the release, Moosehead CEO Andrew Oland said Sproutly’s proprietary “Infuz2O” process for delivering cannabis effects within five minutes drove the brewery’s interest in entering the cannabis market.Recreational use of cannabis was legalized in Canada last October, however, the sale of edibles and infused beverages are not currently permitted. Legalization of those products is expected to occur on October 17.Moosehead joins a growing list of beer manufacturers that have already invested in the cannabis space. Large beer companies such as Anheuser-Busch InBev (Tilray), Constellation Brands (Canopy Growth) and Molson Coors (Hexo) have each struck partnerships with other Canadian cannabis companies. Hamilton, Ontario-based Collective Arts Brewing has also established a sister company called Collective Project Limited to develop and sell cannabis-infused beverages.Cannabis is not federally legal in the U.S., however 10 states — Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Washington, D.C. — have established laws permitting the sale and use of recreational cannabis within their borders. Several other states are currently working to decriminalize and legalize cannabis.Meeting of the Malts: Pennsylvania Craft Beer Production Tops in the NationFor the third consecutive year, Pennsylvania produced more craft beer than any other state in the nation, Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson shared during the Brewers of Pennsylvania’s annual Meeting of the Malts gathering in Hershey, Pennsylvania. (Check out Craft Beer Storm – Episode # 41 with Bart Watson!)In 2018, Pennsylvania’s 354 craft breweries combined to produce more than 3.7 million barrels of beer. And, according to Watson, the state ranked second in the number of brewery openings, trailing just California. Most of that growth, Watson said, is coming from the small breweries that sell directly to consumers.Direct-to-consumer sales at Pennsylvania breweries increased by 15,000 barrels last year, Watson said. He added that Pennsylvania brewers have room to grow as national taproom sales accounted for about 12.5 percent of beer sales.Looking at the national landscape, Watson said he believes there will be 10,000 breweries in operation in the U.S. within the next two years. In 2018, a record number 7,346 breweries operated for all or part of the year.As more breweries have opened, the median size of all beer companies has shrunk to 400 barrels, Watson said. He added that half of the breweries in the country produce 400 barrels or fewer.However, Watson said craft brewers have the opportunity to buck those trends and grow over the next decade as millennials “age into beer, rather than aging out of beer like previous generations.”Veteran New Belgium Communications Director to Depart on May 10Longtime New Belgium Brewing spokesman Bryan Simpson will depart the company on May 10, Brewbound has learned. (Founder is Kim Jordan)“It’s been an absolute honor to represent this brewery and everyone’s collective love and talent,” he said via a statement.Leah Pilcer-Pitman, who most recently served as New Belgium’s director of retail development and strategy, will supplant Simpson as director of communications.Simpson, who spent 21-years with the country’s fourth largest craft beer company, said he will launch his own boutique digital media agency this summer.“I’ll be moving on to pursue my long-deferred dream of creative film and media production, and I will always be a passionate and vocal fan of New Belgium Brewing and the entire craft brewing industry,” he said via the statement.Speaking to Brewbound, Simpson said his yet-to-be-named agency would focus on “content generation” and the creation of “digital and web assets.”Simpson, one of New Belgium’s longest-tenured employees, joined the company in July 1997. At the time, New Belgium produced about 80,000 barrels of beer, its offerings were distributed in just five Western states, and the entire craft brewing industry comprised fewer than 1,100 breweries that collectively produced 5 million barrels.Today, more than 7,300 breweries make nearly 26 million barrels of craft beer, according to industry trade group the Brewers Association. For its part, New Belgium, now the fourth-largest U.S. craft brewery according to industry trade group the Brewers Association, produced 846,000 barrels of beer in 2018, down from 955,000 barrels in 2017. The company distributes to 50 states.“I was literally hired on the bottling line, and then I worked in the tasting room for one-to-two years, but at that time everyone was doing a bit of everything,” he said.Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2*** A Top 20 Podcast in Food on iTunes ***Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/podcast-center-la-2/craft-beer-stormCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelpotorti/

Michael chats with Bart Watson, Chief Economist of the Brewers Association about what kind of beer people are drinking and trends in the industry.Bart is in charge of the BA’s statistical resources, including production surveys, economic analysis, and market research. In addition to providing industry data for members, his responsibilities include interacting with the media on economic and statistical issues.Areas of expertise: Beer industry stats, craft beer market, economics of craft beerEmail: bart@brewersassociation.org and follow him on Twitter @BrewersStatsSubscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2*** A Top 20 Podcast in Food on iTunes ***Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/podcast-center-la-2/craft-beer-stormCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelpotorti/

Craft Brew News – 04/06/19(courtesy of Brewbound.com)Constellation Brands Sales Top $8.1 Billion in Fiscal Year 2019Constellation Brands reported its fiscal year and second quarter 2019 earnings results today, which were highlighted by a 7 percent increase in net sales, to more than $8.1 billion.During the 2019 fiscal year, Corona brand family shipments reached 150 million cases, while depletions increased 7 percent. Meanwhile, Modelo brand family shipments exceeded 125 million cases, as depletions rose 12 percent.Newlands called Modelo Especial “the leading growth engine in entire U.S. beer market,” adding that it is the “fastest growing brand in the on-premise” and the No. 1 selling beer in 7-Eleven stores.“It is the fastest growing major beer in the industry, accounting for almost 40 percent of total category growth,” he said, adding that the beer is now the top selling brand in California.In 2020 fiscal year, Constellation Brands will make its “biggest marketing investment” behind Modelo, with television advertising during live sporting events as well as the roll out of 32 oz. single-serve bottles.Heineken USA to Pay Record $2.5 Million Fine to Settle Trade Practice ViolationsThe Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) today announced the acceptance of a record $2.5 million offer in compromise from Heineken USA Incorporated for alleged trade practice violations outlined in the Federal Alcohol Administration (FAA) Act.According to the TTB, HUSA supplied alcohol retailers with its proprietary “BrewLock” draft systems at no cost between August 1, 2015, and March 26, 2019.In a press release, the TTB said the BrewLock systems were designed to only dispense products packaged in unique kegs used by HUSA, which subsequently induced retailers into purchasing offerings made by the global brewing entity.Additionally, the TTB accused Heineken’s U.S. importing arm of making “slotting fee payments” to retailers, and disguising those transactions as “permissible activities” such as consumer sampling experiences that never actually occurred.Brewers Association: Craft Growth Outpacing Overall Beer MarketThe BA, which released its 2018 craft industry growth statistics today, reported that 7,346 craft breweries operated in the U.S. in 2018. That’s up from 6,490 in 2017.Those 7,346 craft breweries produced a combined 25.9 million barrels of beer in 2018, up about 800,000 barrels from 2017, the BA said.Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson told members of the media during a teleconference. “We’re still seeing openings outpace closings by almost five-to-one,” Watson added that he expects both numbers to be revised upward next year as additional data is collected.In 2018, craft’s share of total beer dollars grew to 24.1 percent — to an estimated $27.6 billion — which Watson attributed to price inflation and the so-called “long tail” of small brewers commanding higher retail margins. Craft’s volume share of the overall U.S. beer also increased, to 13.2 percent last year, up from 12.6 percent in 2017.Watson also made a case for the smallest breweries finding the most success as they build their businesses through direct-to-consumer taproom sales. The BA estimates that the number of barrels sold directly to consumers via brewery taprooms grew by about 400,000 barrels, to 3.1 million barrels, in 2018 (up from 2.71 million barrels in 2017).Ninkasi Brewing Sells Majority Stake, Establishes National Platform to Acquire Other BreweriesOregon’s Ninkasi Brewing has sold a majority stake to Legacy Breweries Inc., an upstart venture led by former Yakima Chief CEO Don Bryant, that aims to acquire U.S. craft breweries.Similar to Canarchy – which owns Oskar Blues, Cigar City Brewing, Deep Ellum, Utah Brewers Cooperative, Perrin Brewing and Three Weavers – or Artisanal Brewing Ventures – which owns Victory Brewing, Southern Tier and Sixpoint Brewery – Legacy Breweries Inc. hopes to establish “collaborative partnerships” with craft breweries, according Ninkasi co-founder Nikos Ridge.Speaking to Brewbound, Ridge said he, along and co-founder Jamie Floyd and the company’s six investors, would “retain significant ownership” in the brewery.“Ninkasi sold a majority stake to Legacy Breweries in order to create a new platform that can leverage our resources in conjunction with those of the Legacy team,” he said.As those “brewing hubs” are established, the company would also look to acquire 10 to 15 smaller breweries in those geographies. Those companies would be able to access expanded production and packaging capabilities and have better access to raw materials such as hops, malt, and cans. (Beara Portsmouth Location for Sale - Call Me or send me an email michael@craftbeerstorm.com !)Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/podcast-center-la-2/craft-beer-stormCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelpotorti/

In episode 28 of the Brewbound Podcast, BA chief economist Bart Watson shares his early 2018 analysis and discusses the circumstances that have led to an increasing number of brewery closures in recent years. He also answers questions about the BA’s revised craft brewer definition, and the possible future impact of legal recreational cannabis on the alcohol segment. Show Notes: 0:00 – 17:50: Chris Furnari and Justin Kendall introduce episode 28 and discuss the latest legislative and leadership updates in the beer industry 18:50 – 53:50: Furnari and Kendall interview Bart Watson 53:50 – 1:04:38: Furnari and Kendall share their takeaways from the interview and run down segments

Craft Brew News 2/15/19(Courtesy of Brewbound.com)Union Efforts Start at Anchor BrewingAnchor Employees Attempt to UnionizeWorkers of the iconic Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco have begun the process of unionizing, Splinter News reported.In a letter dated February 7, Anchor’s employees requested that Japan’s Sapporo Holdings Limited, which acquired the brewery in 2017, recognize their union with the International Longshoremen & Warehouse Union.“Anchor workers should be paid enough to live in San Francisco,” the letter said. “We’re struggling to survive and raise our families. The work we do is exhausting — and we have to keep moving farther away and driving longer to survive.”The employees added that if Sapporo does not recognize their union, they would file for an election with the National Labor Relations Board.Anchor would not be the only beer company to organize. Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson tweeted that Boston Beer Company’s Cincinnati production facility as well as Lagunitas’ Chicago operation are both unionized. Additionally, August Schell brewer Dave Berg noted that the Minnesota brewery is also a union house.Pabst Rebrands Not Your Father’s Line, Targets Female ConsumersPabst Brewing Company officially launched the rebrand of its Not Your Father’s FMB line earlier this week. The nationwide rollout of rebranded labels and packaging for its root beer offering and new lemonade flavor started Monday.According to a press release, Pabst is now using the line to target female consumers ages 21 to 35, and the company has lowered the price of 6-packs to $9.99.“We learned that these women are buying 60 percent of the flavored malt beverage business,” Daniel Crawford, Not Your Father’s associate brand manager, said via the release. “We took the time to get to know her – what makes her tick, what motivates her and how she likes to spend her free time – it all guided the new look and the campaign we’re launching to introduce the new brand.”Weyerbacher Cuts 2 Sales Reps, Seeks InvestmentIn a cost-cutting move as it seeks new investment, Easton, Pennsylvania-based Weyerbacher Brewing has laid off two salespeople, according to PhillyBeerWorld.com.Weyerbacher chief operating officer Josh Lampe described the job cuts as “reorganizing.”“We’re getting some funding from investors,” he said. “As part of that, we had to get the company healthy before the investment came in.”According to PhillyBeerWorld.com, Weyerbacher produced about 15,000 barrels of beer in 2018, down from a peak of 19,543 barrels in 2014, according to an estimate from the BA.Meanwhile, Weyerbacher was involved in a two-month dispute with its insurance carrier.Breweries Close in Portland, Oregon and DenverPortland, Oregon-based Burnside Brewing is now closed after its landlord changed the locks to the building due to the 9-year-old beer company failing to keep make its rent payments, Willamette Week reported. Additionally, a lien has been placed on the brewery’s equipment.Employees were reportedly notified via a message — a screenshot of which was shared on Reddit — that the brewery was “no longer operational” as of February 5, and they were encouraged to file for unemployment. The message added that it was unclear if the company would make payroll, but “wages will be paid as soon as possible.”Burnside, which the BA estimated produced 3,400 barrels of beer in 2017, is one of several established Portland beer companies to either shut down completely or close a taproom over the last five months.Meanwhile, Denver-based Fermaentra Brewery announced it would close on February 23, according to the Westword alt-weekly newspaper.“Long story short, a lot of overhead has forced some difficult decisions in the last year and with costs on the rise we don’t foresee being able to operate Fermaentra at the Evans location in a sustainable manner,” the company said in a Facebook post. “In lieu of continuing to operate we have decided to transfer the space over to a brewery with a fresh and exciting model.”Feraementra, which opened in late 2014, produced an estimated 450 barrels in 2017, according to the BA.Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/craft-beer-storm-WdbK0LCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerstorm/

Weed and beer! Beer and weed! Are the industries complementary or are they competitors? Beer sellers are concerned that as more states legalize weed, people may choose cannabis over alcohol and as a result, drive down the sales of beer and booze. In today's episode, Hayley explores these claims and talks to Bart Watson, the Chief Economist at the Brewers Association. He schools us on everything from why IPA's smell so danky, to why cannabis could impact the craft beer biz - but not in the ways people are concerned about. Follow Bart Watson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BrewersStats Read his 2016 story at https://www.brewersassociation.org/insights/marijuana-beer-industry/ Follow Hayley on Twitter at https://twitter.com/epfox Support the show and TableCakes Productions at https://www.patreon.com/tablecakes If you’re a LA-based radio reporter and you are interested in hosting Green & Gold, email some links to your work to tablecakesproductions@gmail.com

Craft Brew News – 12/14/18Itunes – Ranked # 12 in Food Category and #1 Craft Beer Podcast recently – THANK YOU!Interviewed John Kimmich – Co-Founder of Alchemist – Stowe, VT•Famous Heady Topper, an unfiltered double India pale ale (IPA) with an 8 percent ABV•Men's Journal calls Heady Topper, “America's most coveted beer.”•RateBeer.com names it one of the 100 best beers in the world. •It regularly tops the charts at BeerAdvocate.comTrying to get Sam Calagione Founder of DogfishHead and Jim Koch Founder of Boston Beer Co. on – connect us!Drizly Lands $34.5 Million in Series C FundingDrizly, a Boston-based on-demand alcohol delivery company, has secured another $34.5 million as part of a Series C fundraising round, according to a December 10 SEC filing.Founded in 2012, Drizly has now raised about $70 million across multiple fundraising rounds from a variety of investors. Early-round investors also included First Beverage, Suffolk Equity, Gary Vaynerchuk (via the Vayner RSE fund – Wine Library) and the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America.Six-year-old Drizly, which processed over 1 million transactions in 2017, currently bills itself as “the world’s largest alcohol marketplace.” Its mobile application enables consumers to shop for beer, wine and spirits and compare prices.Drizly, which operates in more than 100 North American markets and recently expanded into Vancouver, Canada, has forged partnerships with more than 1,000 retailers. The company is aiming to add another 2,000 retail stores in 2019, according to source with knowledge of the company’s growth strategies.•Intrastate Shipping Available In (16): •California•Colorado•Connecticut•D.C.•Florida•Illinois•Louisiana•Massachusetts•Minnesota•Missouri•New Jersey•New York•North Carolina•Ohio•Oregon•Washington•Interstate Shipping Available In (8): •Virginia•West Virginia•Idaho•North Dakota•Nebraska•New Mexico•Nevada•OregonDME Receivership Leaves Hundreds of Craft Brewers in LimboNearly 26 months after the merger of Canadian brewing equipment manufacturers Diversified Metal Engineering (DME) and Newlands Systems, the combined company has fallen into receivership after defaulting on loan payments to the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).DME Group’s financial troubles have left hundreds of of North American craft brewery owners who had already shelled out millions of dollars in equipment deposits in limbo.DME’s list of unsecured brewery creditors features a host of well-known producers, including 10 Barrel Brewing, Anchorage Brewing, Diageo, Foam Brewers, Labatt, Lord Hobo, Maine Beer Company, Monday Night Brewing, Moosehead Breweries, New Belgium Brewing, Night Shift Brewing, Notch Brewing, Tired Hands Brewing, and Wicked Weed, among many others.DME’s financial woes follow issues for several other brewing equipment manufacturers, including the closure of Portland, Oregon-based Metal Craft in 2017 and Canton, Ohio-based SysTech Stainless Works earlier this year.Thad Fisco, owner of Portland Kettle Works, likened the closings to small brewers stuck in the “hinterland between being regional and being local.”“Same exact thing is happening in the manufacturing business,” he said. “Too much debt, the debt gets ahead of you, you can’t make the payments and the banks come in and foreclose.”Still, the closure of a large manufacturer such as DME is an opportunity for companies such as Portland Kettle Works, Fisco said.Anheuser-Busch Lays Off Dozens of Brewery WorkersAnheuser-Busch InBev has eliminated nearly 40 jobs across North America, Brewbound has learned.In a statement issued last Friday, A-B said it was making “a limited number of targeted changes” to its North American “supply organization.”Last week’s cuts come about 15 months after A-B eliminated nearly 2 percent of its North American workforce in a move that impacted approximately 350 employees.A-B joins a growing list of beer companies that have downsized their workforces in 2018, including Constellation Brands, Pabst Brewing Company, Lagunitas, New Belgium, Green Flash, Ninkasi, and Avery Brewing, among others.Through the first nine months of 2018, A-B’s U.S. revenues have declined 1.4 percent. Meanwhile, the company’s two flagship brands — Bud Light and Budweiser — continue to lose volume although both still rank among the top five Brewery Openings on the Rise in Major U.S. Population Centers, BA ReportsU.S. cities with populations in excess of 5 million have seen the most percentage growth of brewery openings in the past five years, according to Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson.In an email to Brewbound, Watson explained that the growth in the number of breweries in the U.S.’s largest cities is partially due to those locations playing “catch-up” with the rest of the country.Watson’s data — including an interactive map — revealed that eight metro areas are now home to more than 100 breweries.Leading the way is Chicago, with 167 breweries. Interviewed Chet Brett (Brand Manager) from Tribes Brewing Co. in Mokena, IL - Chicago area– they are doing well and selling a lot of beer.Trailing Chicago are long-time beer meccas and other major population centers, including Denver (158), Seattle (153), San Diego (150), Los Angeles (146), New York (141), Portland, Oregon (139), and Philadelphia (113).The last time Watson charted the data — in 2013 — Seattle’s 87 breweries were the most in the nation. Chicago ranked fifth that year with 62 breweries, trailing Portland, Oregon (77), San Diego (76) and Denver (63).Rankings are fleeting, however, as more breweries open their doors and shutter. According to the BA, 7,000 breweries were in operation as of the end of October, with potentially as many as 1,000 openings in 2018. Meanwhile, Watson told Brewbound earlier this year that he anticipates as many as 300 brewery closures by the end of 2018, as the gap between openings and closings begins to converge.News courtesy of Brewbound (https://www.brewbound.com/)Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/craft-beer-storm-WdbK0LCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerstorm/

Craft Beer News – 11/23/18Artisanal Brewing Ventures Execs Discuss ‘100 percent’ Acquisition of Sixpoint BreweryAfter four years of discussions with Sixpoint Brewery founder Shane Welch, Artisanal Brewing Ventures (ABV) finally completed a deal to purchase 100 percent of his Brooklyn-based craft brewery this week.Even though ABV had been courting Sixpoint for several years, it wasn’t until this summer when negotiations really began to heat up, John Coleman, CEO of ABV, told Brewbound.As the deal came together, ABV — which is backed by family office Ulysses Management and was formed in 2016 via the merger of Victory Brewing and Southern Tier Brewing — turned to Wells Fargo to help finance the acquisition.Coleman declined to share specific financial terms of the transaction.Unlike ABV’s partnerships with Victory and Southern Tier, whose founders have remained involved in the businesses they started, Welch is exiting the company he founded in 2004 to focus on other “craft beer-related businesses,” including a smartphone app that helps facilitate direct-to-consumer sales at breweries.Although ABV’s past strategy has focused on retaining its partner breweries’ founders, the company decided it needed to be more flexible when it came to Sixpoint, Paul Barnett, managing director of Ulysses Management, told Brewbound.“Shane has a lot of other outside interests, which he’s passionate about,” he said. “He struggled with the idea of the obligations that are inherent in being an active founder partner like Bill [Covaleski] and Ron [Barchet of Victory] and Phin [DeMink of Southern Tier].”Now, Sixpoint brewmaster and chief product officer Eric Bachli will lead the company. Last year, Welch hired Bachli away from popular Massachusetts craft brewery Trillium Brewing.According to Coleman and Barnett, Sixpoint was an attractive acquisition target for ABV due to its geographical presence in New York City, where the brewery sells more than half of its volume, as well as its alignment within the Sheehan Family network of wholesalers.“We think there’s a lot of growth potential in metro New York as well as all of the surrounding areas,” Coleman said. “And from a brewing standpoint, the brands are all very complimentary with Southern Tier and Victory brands.”According to Coleman, Sixpoint is on pace to produce 55,000 barrels of beer by the end of 2018. The company did not report production figures to the Brewers Association last year, but in 2016 it reported production of 74,500 barrels.Finally, Barnett and Coleman said ABV isn’t done buying, and they mentioned a focus on breweries located in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Southeast regions of the U.S..“The east of the Mississippi geography we find is really an attractive market,” Barnett said.TTB Accepts Offer for Trade Practice ViolationsTTB and Elgin Beverage Agree to $325,000 Offer in CompromiseThe Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) yesterday announced the acceptance of a $325,000 offer in compromise from Illinois distributor Elgin Beverage Co. for alleged violations of tied house provisions.Elgin, based in Bartlett, about 35 miles from Chicago, distributes products from Constellation Brands, Pabst Brewing and FIFCO USA, among others.In a press release, the TTB said Elgin had “aided and abetted another industry member in the use of a third party to pay retailers to carry and promote their products.”The pay-to-play scheme, the TTB argued, gave Elgin an “unfair advantage” in the marketplace.“TTB remains committed to putting an end to anti-competitive practices that hurt law-abiding businesses and prevent consumers from enjoying a wide selection of products,” the agency wrote.Earlier this month, the TTB issued an industry circular reminding alcohol beverage companies that it was “committed to ensuring a fair and level playing field nationwide.” In that announcement, the TTB noted that it had “significantly intensified” its enforcement (which began in 2017), and that it was focused on snuffing out “exclusive outlet, tied house, commercial bribery, and consignment sale violations.”“The high incidence of unlawful activities and deliberate concealment of such activities raise serious concerns,” the agency wrote. “These activities are of particular significance because of their nationwide occurrence and their impact on trade and fair competition.”In May, the TTB accepted a $900,000 offer in compromise from Warsteiner Importers Agency Inc. — “the largest single offer in compromise for trade practice violations” ever accepted by the agency.The Ohio-based company was accused of engaging in illegal tied house, commercial bribery and exclusive outlet violations committed in order to compromise a retailer’s independence from January 1, 2015, through April 19, 2018.BA Chief Economist: Brewery Visits are Good for Beer Industry HealthIn his latest blog post, Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson said “getting people into breweries is a good thing for the beer industry.”His rationale? Recent Nielsen CGA data that suggests beer drinkers who visit breweries drink more beer, while those who do not visit breweries drink less.Conversely, 24 percent of more than 4,300 consumers who hadn’t visited a brewery in the last year and were also asked about their consumption habits said they were drinking more beer, while 28 percent said they were drinking less.“Now, as someone who cares about good analysis, I won’t pretend that this means going to a brewery is causing people to drink more beer,” Watson wrote. “The causality might run the other way: people who are drinking more beer might be seeking out breweries.”Nevertheless, Watson said all players throughout the three-tier system need to “actively try to recreate the reasons people go to breweries.”His pitch to beer distributors, some of whom have expressed concerns about the proliferation of brewery taprooms?“If these beer lovers are drinking a typical amount, their beer consumption is going up far more than at-the-brewery sales alone, suggesting once again that brewery visits spill out into the wider market and help build brand beer,” he wrote.Massachusetts to Commence Recreational Cannabis Sales on November 20The first legal recreational cannabis sales east of the Mississippi will occur next Tuesday in Massachusetts, The Boston Globe reported Friday.In a press release, the state’s Cannabis Control Commission announced that it had approved two companies — Cultivate Holdings, LLC and New England Treatment Access, LLC – to begin selling marijuana and marijuana products.“This signal to open retail marijuana establishments marks a major milestone for voters who approved legal, adult-use cannabis in our state,” commission chairman Steven J. Hoffman said via a press release. “To get here, licensees underwent thorough background checks, passed multiple inspections, and had their products tested, all to ensure public health and safety as this new industry gets up and running.”It took lawmakers and regulators more than two years to finally approve cannabis sales after Massachusetts voters passed a 2016 ballot initiative making recreational cannabis legal.Source of News Stories: Brewboundhttps://www.brewbound.com/Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHSubscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NHMichael PotortiFounder/BrewerHost of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcastmichael@craftbeerstorm.commichael@bearairishbrew.com*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***Beara Brewing Co.2800 Lafayette RoadPortsmouth, NH 03801Tel. (857) 342-3272 www.bearairishbrew.com Like us onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearairishbrew/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearaIrishBrewingCo Twitter: https://twitter.com/BearaIrishBrew Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beara-brewing-co-30776075/**LISTEN to our Craft Beer Storm Podcast and share with a friend**Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2Craft Beer Storm You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3PVuCGmywNWlGFh0N0ukg?view_as=subscriberCraft Beer Storm Podcast Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/craft-beer-storm-WdbK0LCraft Beer Storm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftbeerstorm/Craft Beer Storm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerstorm/

Craft Brew News – 10/26/18https://www.brewbound.com/news/last-call-canada-lifts-tariff-on-u-s-aluminum-cans-climate-change-effects-on-beer-refutedCanada Lifts Tariff on U.S. Aluminum Cans; Climate Change Effects on Beer RefutedIn response to a shortage of aluminum cans, the Canadian government has lifted a 10 percent tariff on U.S.-made aluminum cans, according to Reuters.Luke Harford, president of trade group Beer Canada, told the outlet that Canadian brewers had faced a shortage of 16 oz. cans, which are only available from U.S.-based suppliers. That forced some companies to halt production for weeks, or delay product launches.Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s 10 percent tariff on imported aluminum remains in effect.Brewers and Farmers Refute Barley Shortage FearsA recent paper published by 10 international scientists in the Nature Plants journal suggested a barley shortage caused by climate change could cause beer prices to double. The report said heat waves and droughts could lead to barley yield declines of as much as 17 percent while beer production could drop 16 percent.However, Brewers Association (BA) chief economist Bart Watson told NPR that the “study isn’t a great indicator of what is going to happen in the real world” and the study overstates the effects on the beer industry.Dwight Little, president of the Idaho Grain Producers Association, added that climate change is likely to occur slowly, which will give farmers time to adapt and change their planting schedules.Craft Beer Cellar Lawsuit Against Glassdoor Thrown OutA federal court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Craft Beer Stellar LLC, the franchisor of the Craft Beer Cellar retail outlets, against Glassdoor. In the suit, Craft Beer Stellar argued that anonymous users — possibly franchisees — had unfairly critiqued the company and violated the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, among other claims.According to Massachusetts trial attorney Andrew Caplan, the court tossed out Craft Beer Stellar’s lawsuit, citing the federal Communications Decency Act, which bans lawsuits against website publishers for defamatory statements posted by third parties.A-B’s Natty Light 77-Packs Draw Ire of Maryland ComptrollerMaryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is accusing Anheuser-Busch of promoting binge drinking following the release of specialty 77-packs of Natural Light, which were exclusively sold in College Park, the home of the University of Maryland.“Corporate beer manufacturers claim to care about the public health impacts of alcohol, but the message they send by selling a 77-pack of beer designed to look like a keg in a college town shows they care more about their bottom line than the negative impacts of binge drinking,” Franchot spokesman Alan Brody told the New York Daily News.A-B released the multipacks earlier this month to celebrate the year of the brand’s creation. The packages, which retailed for around $30, quickly sold out.Franchot has drawn headlines in the last couple of years for his advocacy of the state’s craft breweries.Heady Topper is a double India Pale Ale brewed by The Alchemist in Stowe, Vermont. It is unfiltered and contains 8% ABV, with hints of citrus flavors. Unpasteurized, it is kept refrigerated by authorized retailers until point of sale.

Craft Brew News # 2Articles courtesy of Brewbound (https://www.brewbound.com/)https://www.brewbound.com/news/last-call-economic-impact-of-san-diego-brewers-exceeds-1-billion-ba-analyzes-gabf-winnersSan Diego Craft Brewers’ Economic Impact Estimated at $1.1 BillionThe craft brewing industry in San Diego County had an economic impact of about $1.1 billion in 2017, up from $870 million the previous year, according to a recently released study by the California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) Office of Business Research & Analysis and the San Diego Brewers Guild.The study also found that San Diego-based breweries generated three times the revenue — about $802 million — as the San Diego Padres in 2017. That figure was up from $638 million in 2016.“2017 proved to be a successful year for the ‘Capital of Craft,’ and these research findings truly show our vibrant region is on track for continuous growth,” San Diego Brewers Guild executive director Paige McWey said, via a press release.BA Analyzes GABF WinnersThe chances of winning a medal at the 2018 Great American Beer Festival were the lowest on record — just 3.6 percent this year — due to the increased number of entries, Brewers Association (BA) chief economist Bart Watson shared during his annual breakdown of medal winners.“Without considering which category was entered, a brewery that entered four medals still only had a 13.7% chance of winning a single medal, and even a group that entered 20 beers only had a 50/50 shot of winning a medal,” he wrote. “That makes it all the more impressive to see some breweries win multiple medals, and also to see brewers who repeated medal wins from previous years. Given the low odds, it truly shows their ability to consistently make world-class beers.”Watson also analyzed medal winners by size and found that regional beer companies “overperform” their medal-winning expectations, while breweries under 1,000 barrels “under-perform, but they still win a heck of a lot of medals.”Price-Fixing Probe in India Snares A-B InBev, Carlsberg and United BreweriesThe Competition Commission of India (CCI) conducted a search-and-seizure raid Thursday at the offices of United Breweries, Carlsberg and Anheuser-Busch InBev that turned up email exchanges revealing those companies were fixing prices, Reutersreported, citing a government source.“That is smoking gun evidence,” the source told the outletThe CCI reportedly had been conducting an antitrust investigation into the three beer companies over the last year, Reuters reported. In India, the state government dictates beer prices by adding up excise duties, taxes and retail profit on top of the minimum ex-brewery price declared by the companies. However, sources told the outlet that the companies likely manipulated the ex-brewery price.California Brewpub License Reform Becomes LawIn late September, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a new law allowing brewpubs with “Type 75” licenses — retail restaurant licenses with brewing privileges (between 100 and 5,000 barrels annually) — to sell their products for off-premise consumption.The new law also tightens the requirements for obtaining the license, requiring license holders to operate at least a 7-barrel brewing system and produce and sell at least 200 barrels annually. Previously, Type 75 licensees were required to produce at least 100 barrels per year, with no sales requirements, which led some people to seek the licenses as a cheap way of obtaining a liquor license.The bill was supported by Artisanal Brewers Collective (ABC), a restaurant and brewpub group started by former Golden Road Brewing co-founder Tony Yanow, and which operates brewpubs in Los Angeles and San Diego. Cannabiniers Eyes Market Expansion for Non-Alc Cannabis Drinks by Year EndCannabiniers, a cannabis company that claims to produce “the world’s first line of CannaCrafted non-alcoholic THC and CBD infused craft beer,” is projecting annual sales of its Two Roots Brewing offerings to reach 500,000 barrels by late 2020, the company announced in a a press release.In order to meet consumer demand, the company is in the process of securing brewing capacity via “contract brewing, acquisitions or strategic alignments” to feed a 20-state rollout,” Cannabiniers president Timothy Walters said in the release.“With sales exceeding forecasts by 300 percent, we are now taking orders three months in advance,” he said. “We need to move now and take advantage of our first mover position, in advance of changes in federal law, and market entry of Constellation Brands, InBev/AB, Diageo, or others.”To finance the multi-state rollout — which the company is targeting by the end of 2018 — Cannabiniers is in the process of $50 million Series B capital raise.Michigan Lawmakers Seek Ban on Cannabis-Infused Alcoholic DrinksMichigan lawmakers voted last week in favor of banning the use, possession and sale of marijuana-infused beer, wine and spirits, according to the Detroit News. Gov. Rick Snyder is expected to sign the bill into law.Meanwhile, Michigan voters will decide whether to make recreational use of marijuana legal during the November midterm elections. Medical marijuana use is already legal in the state.

Examining the Craft Beer Bubble with the Brewers Association's chief economist Bart Watson Craft beer is booming in America.  We're likely to hit 7,000 breweries by the end of the year, more than double the number just five years ago.  With the explosion of new breweries many fear that we're in a bubble, and it's about to bust.  But is that the case? Bart Watson, chief economist at the Brewers Association, joins us this week to discuss the existence of the craft beer bubble and examine the numbers of what's really happening. Watson shares some details on the rate of brewery openings and closures and what those numbers mean.  Attendance at the Great American Beer Festival, from brewers and consumers, is up and every competition category gets its fair share of entries.  We discuss how excise tax cuts and higher tariffs are impacting brewers and consumers, how the industry today looks compared to the late 1990s, and what more legal weed could mean for craft beer. Beer Guys Radio Craft Beer Podcast 146 Guest: Bart Watson, Chief Economist, Brewers Association Topic: The Craft Beer Bubble and State of the Craft Beer Industry Episode Guide Sponsor thanks and show intro | 0:00 Bart Watson introduction | 01:35 Ultimate Frisbee talk | 01:52 GABF attendance recap | 02:54 Beer Guys Week in Review | 03:50 Georgia homebrew laws | 06:40 Beers of the Week | 07:08 Craft beer news | 08:40 Oops! Data correction | 12:50 Craft beer collectives and status as craft breweries | 13:25 GABF medal analysis and trends | 14:21 Popular GABF categories outside of IPA | 15:21 Does the Craft Beer Bubble exist? | 17:20 Brewery openings and closures | 19:15 Craft beer industry today vs. the late 90s | 19:50 US brewery numbers and growth potential | 23:35 Brewery excise tax relief - Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA) | 27:24 Aluminum and steel tariffs | 30:35 Challenges for new breweries | 34:40 Wine and spirits vs. craft beer vs. big beer | 36:00 Alternative alcoholic beverages | 38:00 Breweries making other beverages | 39:00 Legal cannabis/marijuana vs. craft beer | 40:29 Independent Craft Brewer seal | 42:07

It’s hard to be objective when it comes to such a subjective thing like beer. We’re all driven by our own preferences and tastes mapped out by sensory experiences of flavor and aroma. Things are good and bad, sought after whales and shelf turds. Beer is an experiential good and our exposure varies on time of day, mood, company and more. But there are still plenty of cold, hard facts that factor into the social, cultural and business side of beer, which is why this week’s guest is a special one for me.  Bart Watson deals with numbers. Truthful, verifiable, factual data. As one of only several economists who work within the beer industry, it’s his job to offer context and insight into what’s changing, and often, what’s to come. His logical and well-cited reason is regularly seen on the Brewers Association website and increasingly in media around the country. When some may be focusing on the hot take du jour, Bart can be found writing a blog post or interacting on Twitter with calculated answers. And it’s about beer. As the BA was preparing to kickoff the Great American Beer Festival in early October, I sat down with Bart inside the Colorado Convention Center to geek out, talking about the new challenges within the beer market, including price points, marijuana use, distribution and more. With thousands of people scurrying around the building ready to celebrate craft beer, it was exciting to take a fittingly calm moment to evaluate the state of the industry and where beer lovers should be looking in 2018. Who knew economics could be so cool?

This week we caught up with the Brewers Association's Chief Economist, Bart Watson, to discuss the state of the craft beer industry in the United States and what we can expect from the economy looking forward. Is there a beer market “bubble”...? Bart shares with us some interesting statistics! Bart Watson: Bart is in charge of the Brewers Association's statistical resources, including production surveys, economic analysis, and market research. In addition to providing industry data for members, his responsibilities include interacting with the media on economic and statistical issues. Bart has a PhD in Political Science, and was a professor in the subject prior to working with the BA. Bart has a deep love for good beer and is an expert in beer industry statistics, the economics of craft beer and, of course, the craft beer market.

This week we caught up with the Brewers Association’s Chief Economist, Bart Watson, to discuss the state of the craft beer industry in the United States and what we can expect from the economy looking forward. Is there a beer market “bubble”...? Bart shares with us some interesting statistics! Bart Watson: Bart is in charge of the Brewers Association’s statistical resources, including production surveys, economic analysis, and market research. In addition to providing industry data for members, his responsibilities include interacting with the media on economic and statistical issues. Bart has a PhD in Political Science, and was a professor in the subject prior to working with the BA. Bart has a deep love for good beer and is an expert in beer industry statistics, the economics of craft beer and, of course, the craft beer market.

Join Chris in a recap of his adventures at the Craft Brewers Conference, the annual conference for the Brewers Association, then listen to interviews with Bart Watson, Chief Economist of the Brewers Association, and Paul Leone, Executive Director of the New York State Brewers Association. Lastly, Mary and Rachel highlight some of their learnings and takeaways from Fuhmentaboudit's 14th season. Join us on March 8 as we launch season #15!

This month on Taproom Talks, Bart Watson (Chief Economist of the Brewers Association) visits to talk the year in beer! 2016 was a wild ride for craft, and there's none better than Bart to tell what yesterday's news means for today, tomorrow, and 2017! Huddle 'round the crystal ball everyone- The future is now!

A week at #HomebrewCon wouldn’t be complete without us interviewing somebody from the American Homebrewers Association or the Brewers Association!   We were fortunate enough to land an interview with the chief economist from the Brewers Association, Bart Watson! Chatting with Bart was a ton of fun as he provides a wealth of knowledge on […]

UVM's Business of Craft Beer Blog Talk Radio series, “Bubble or Sustainable Growth? Examining Today's Craft Beer Industry.” Today's Show features a discussion with Bart Watson, Chief Economist at the Brewers Association.    

Two breweries open every day in the U.S., and 75% of Americans live within 10 miles of one. And as it turns out, many brewery owners are conscience of the environment and energy usage, making them perfect potential solar customers. This is especially true as breweries mature and make plans for their next phase of growth, said Bart Watson, chief economist of the Brewers Association. “It makes good business sense,” Watson said. “Breweries are energy intensive. It’s a manufacturing business. When you’re constantly heating water for your boil kettle or hot liquor tank having a reliable source of energy that over the long term reduces your costs makes sense.” Listen to this Solar Speaks podcast to learn more about the micro-brew business and whether breweries could be good prospects for your solar business. Photo © Brewers Association

Tune in to a brand new episode of Fuhmentaboudit! as hosts Mary Izett and Chris Cuzme are on the line with Bart Watson, Chief Economist for the Brewers Association. As a stats geek, beer lover, and Certified Cicerone®, he holds a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, where in addition to his dissertation, he completed a comprehensive survey of Bay Area brewpubs one pint at a time. What are the influences that home brewers are having on professional brewers? Which styles of beer are poised to break out this year?  If you’ve ever wondered about the numbers behind your favorite brew, this episode is not to be missed! “Beverage manufacturing is one of the few areas that has grown manufacturing jobs in this country.” [24:00] “Any town above a million has a brewery now: it’s incredible!” [28:30] –Bart Watson on Fuhmentaboudit!